CVE-2021-24554 in Donation Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/23/2021
The Paytm – Donation Plugin WordPress plugin through 1.3.2 does not sanitise, validate or escape the id GET parameter before using it in a SQL statement when deleting donations, leading to an authenticated SQL injection issue
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2021
The CVE-2021-24554 vulnerability resides within the Paytm - Donation Plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting versions up to 1.3.2. This security flaw represents a critical authentication bypass and SQL injection vulnerability that directly impacts the plugin's ability to handle donation deletion requests. The vulnerability manifests when the plugin processes the id GET parameter without implementing proper sanitization, validation, or escaping mechanisms before incorporating it into SQL queries. This oversight creates a pathway for authenticated attackers to manipulate database operations through maliciously crafted SQL commands, potentially compromising the entire donation management system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs within the plugin's deletion functionality where the id parameter is directly used in SQL statements without adequate input filtering. When an authenticated user with sufficient privileges attempts to delete a donation, the plugin fails to properly sanitize the incoming id value, allowing malicious input to be executed as part of the SQL query. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and represents a classic case of insufficient input validation that enables malicious SQL command injection. The attack vector requires authentication, meaning that an attacker must first obtain valid credentials to exploit this weakness, typically through credential compromise or social engineering tactics.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation to potentially enable full database compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive donor information. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to extract confidential data, modify donation records, or even escalate privileges within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the donation database, potentially exposing donor personal information, transaction details, and financial records. Additionally, the compromised system could serve as a foothold for further attacks within the WordPress installation, potentially leading to complete system compromise and data exfiltration. Organizations using this plugin are particularly vulnerable as the SQL injection allows for arbitrary code execution within the database context, enabling attackers to perform actions such as data deletion, modification, or unauthorized access to the underlying database infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-24554 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the SQL injection vulnerability. System administrators should implement strict input validation and sanitization measures for all GET parameters, particularly those used in database operations. The implementation of prepared statements or parameterized queries should be enforced throughout the plugin codebase to prevent malicious SQL from being executed. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit the potential impact of credential compromise, while regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions to detect anomalous database access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, and maintain comprehensive backup strategies to ensure rapid recovery from potential data compromise. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1190 for exploit public-facing application, emphasizing the need for proper input validation and secure coding practices in web application development.